i was under my car looking for the oxyge sensors when i found this:



dangling in the foreground is what appears to be a ground wire for something..and it looked like it was supposed to connect to the metal stump that the arrow is pointing at. just for frame of reference on the left side of the picture is the cat converter and the white wires also present belong to the o2 sensor.
>>its a 2k max if that makes a difference

heres another pic for good measure..except you cant see the part that it looks like it connects to in this image




i was just tyring to figure out what this wire does. i am attempting to reconnect it but was wondering if this could have attributed to any of my other problems i have been dealing with (in the 'engine/maybe even tranny probs' thread)
i am still planning on replacing my maf and maybe the o2 sensors as well but just wanted to see if anyone knows the purpose of this disconnect cable out of curiosity more than anything.
thanks!

 

That wire is just a ground for the cat. It's not all that important if it's disconnected. I think everyone who has owned a 5th gener went thru this. The wire tends to deteriate after a while and becomes useless. Don't worry, it's still safe without it.

 

just a ground wire, my car has one in the same spot

 

>>yup i have one in the same spot hangin down just like that.. always wondered myself but just assumed it was a pointless ground

 

Mine is dangling just like that.

 

Mines been hanging about 6 months no worries. I think the ground is supposed to increase the overall lifespan of the cat

 

Yeah, probably to cut down on corrosion.

 

I always get a laugh when I drive behind 5th gens - every one of them has that grounding strap haning down

As they said, just cut it off or whatever. It isn't needed. Even the dealer told me it wasn't needed when I went to buy a new attachment for it a couple years ago.

 

I wonder if this happens on the I30/I35's too?

 

ya it isn't needed. on my old car when I redid my entire exhaust system and had extra wire and ring terminals I just made a new one for the hell of it. however you seem to have one nice exhaust leak developing. I see lots of water droplets coming out of your flange.